Nnovember 24th 2007

Under the sponsoring of UNESCO, World Blind Union, French National Committee for the Social Promotion of Blind and Partially Sighted People (CNPSAA) International Committee for the Commemoration of the Bicentenary of Louis Braille’s Birth (CINAL)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Braille 1809 – 2009
The writing with 6 dots and its future

Paris - UNESCO
January 4 – 8, 2009

For Association Valentin Haüy (AVH) and The National Institute for the Young Blind (INJA), the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth is a great occasion to gather the worldwide specialists of Braille to celebrate the inventor of the 6 dots writing system.

As we enter the 21st century the contribution of new technology has been a determining factor in offering new possibilities to the visually impaired and increasing their exposure to all forms of written information.

It is thanks to the brilliant inventor that doors of culture, knowledge and autonomy by school and professional integration, opened to the blind. Two centuries after Louis Braille’s birth, what is the future for Braille in France and worldwide ?

Place :

Paris - Unesco

Organisation Conference :

Plenary sessions, round tables and workshops.

Purpose of the call :

Papers for round tables and workshops (plenary sessions completed)

Subjects :

ROUND TABLES :

a) the Braille system and its applications (music, mathematics, information technology)

b) adapting Braille codes and difficulties

c) Braille unification : success and obstacles

d) users perspectives over the world Braille in developing countries

e) Braille in the daily life

WORKSHOPS :

a) Information technology and Braille display

b) musique (scanning et transcription of a score)

c) cartography and relief drawings

d) Braille and games

Papers duration :

Round tables : 15 minutes

Workshops : 10 minutes

Terms :

Speakers are invited to send a digest of their submission par mail or post (address hereunder) by January 31, 2008 (about 10 lines) in French or in English. No submission will be considered after this date.

For the round tables, subjects may be suggested within the frame of the themes.

Transport and accommodation costs are paid by the organizing committee for papers selected only.

Thanks for passing this call on to the persons who might be concerned by this conference.